Development Officers' Protest Enters Seventh Day

COLOMBO (News1st): The protest launched by a group of Development Officers in front of the Presidential Secretariat continued today for the seventh consecutive day.

The protest is being held demanding recruitment into the teaching service without being required to sit for the competitive teaching examination.

Viraj Manaranga, Secretary of the Sri Lanka School Development Officers' Association, stated that if a solution is not reached during the upcoming discussions with the President, they intend to withdraw from school duties, take leave, and focus solely on studying for the competitive exam.

Over the past few days, several opposition groups have visited the protesters to show solidarity. 

Notably, the Opposition Leader stated yesterday that he would "swear by blood" to grant teacher appointments to Development Officers without a competitive examination once he becomes President.

This ongoing protest comes even as a meeting with the President has already been scheduled for the 3rd of February to discuss the issues faced by Development Officers.

These graduates were initially granted appointments under the then-Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration through an irregular process.